Registering device



Sept. 10, 1929. l. s. DEMENT 1,727,955

REGISTERING DEVICE- Filed Aug. 6, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 X W 1 W n l 0 A Z 4 w ll M 4F 9 M A I N m A W ,P H mi A ,9 6 H 5 \K R N W 6 Im QUJ H m m N w WW 7 I m 9 H 0 H I M N A I. 4 m u mm 00 m M v OVM l 2 ll f Sept. 10, 1929- l. s. DEMENT 7 REGISTERING DEVICE Filed ez- 1925 2 Sheets-Shem 2 CITY GASCO. 97"

DAYTON OHIO.

JOHN H. DOE

IOIVE.FIRST ST.

ME TER NO.

LASTREADING 7 Z 4 0 O Patented Sept. 10, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ISAAC s. nnmnnr, or DAYTON, 01110; BELLE F DEMENT nxncurnrx or sub Isaac s. DEMENT, nncmsnn.

REGISTERING DEVICE.

Application filed August 6, 1925. Serial No. 48,440.

This invention relates to registering devices and more particularly to what is known as an index for meters and the like.

One object of the invention is to provide a register of this kind which will be simple in its construction and easily reset when it is desired to return the counters to zero.

A further object of the invention is to provid a printin device separate from the register and which can be applied thereto to print a record of the registration which has been made by the register. I

A further object of the invention is to provide such a printing device which can be applied tothe register and a record taken without imparting movement to any part of the register.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the device is described in detail.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a register embodying my invention, taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2; Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View taken through the register and the printing device; Fig. 4 is a sectional detail "iew. of a non-reversible drive for the register; Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the same; Fig. 6 is a plan View of the printing device with the top plate removed; Fig. 7

is a vertical section through the printing device, taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 3; Fig.

8 is a sectional detail view of the connection between the shafts of the printing device and of the register; and Fig. 9 is a facsimile of the record sheet.

In these drawings .1 have illustrated one embodiment of my invention and have shown the same, as applied to a register which in its main features of construction is similar to that shown and described in my co-pending application Serial No. 748,635, filed November 8, 1924:, but it will be understood that this particular type of register has been chosen for the purpose of illustration only and that the invention may take various forms and may be applied to registers of various kinds.

As here shown, the register comprises a te casing 1 adapted to be mounted in an openare here shown as dials 9. While the dials' are not here shown in detail it will be understood that they are of the usual character and that each is provided with the numerals '0 to 9 inclusive, these numerals being so arranged that the rotation of the shafts 8 will cause the numerals to be presented \successively in line with the sight openings 10 in the face plate 3, which openings are preferably closed by a plate of glass or other transparent material, as shown at 11. In the operation of the register the register shaft carrying the dial of lowest denomination is driven from the meter mechanism and the other register shafts are driven from the first mentioned shaft. To this end the shaft 5 has rigidly secured thereto a gear 12 which is actuated by a one-tooth gear 13 secured to a shaft 14 mounted in the casing 1 above the shaft 5. llhe gear 12 has its teeth arranged in pairs and the pairs of teeth are spaced apart to provide recesses into which the concentric periphery of the one-tooth gear projects to lock the gear 12 against rotation at all times except when the tooth of the one-tooth gear is in contact therewith. Rigidly secured to the one-tooth gear is gear 15, which meshes with a pinion 16 on a shaft 17, and secured to the pinion 16 is a gear 18 which is adapted to mesh with either of two pinions 19 and 20. The pinions 19 and 20 are mounted on the opposite ends of an oscillating frame 21 which is pivotally mounted between its ends on an axis so arranged with relation to the gear- 18 that either pinion, 19 or 20. may be moved into mesh with that gear. The pinion 19 meshes with a smaller pinion 22 carried by a shaft 23 which is connected with the meter mechanism and which constitutes the driving shaft for theregister. In the normal operation of the register the pinion 22 is 1'0- tated in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 2 and the action of the pinion 22 on the pinion 19 serves not onl to rotate that pinion but to move the osci lating frame 21 about its axis to cause the pinion it) to engage the gear 18 and to hold the same in engagement therewith during its rotation. Should the rotation of the pinion 22 be reversed. the action thereof on the pinion 19 will swing the 0scillating frame 21 about its axis, in the opposite direction, and cause the pinion 19 to be disengaged from the gear 18 and the pinion 20 to be engaged with that gear. The pinions 19 and 20 being in mesh the driving movement will be illfl'IlSITllttOCl through the pinion 19 as an idler to the pinion 20 which then acts as a driving gear, (as shown in Fig. thus causing the gear 18 to be driven in the same direction regardless of the direction in which the drive pinion 22 is rotated.

The movement thus lransi'nitted from the main driving shaft 22-3 to the one-tooth gear 13 causes that gear to act upon the gear 12 and the index shaft 5 to advance that shaft and its associated dial one point upon each complete rotation of the one-tooth gear. Itigidly connected with the gear 12 on the shaft 5 is a one-tooth gear 24 which coop crates with a gear 25 on the shaft 6 to advance that shaft and its associated dial one point upon each complete rotation of the shaft 5 and its dial. The gears 24 and 25 are of the Geneva type, similar to gears 13 and 12 and serve to lock the shaft 6 normally against rotation. Secured to thegear 25 is a one-tooth gear 26 meshing with a gear 27 on the shaft 7 and rigidly secured to the gear 27 is a one-tooth gear 28 meshing with a gear 29 on the shaft 8, the sev eral gears being of the Geneva type above described. It ill be noted that the gears are arranged in two parallel rows and are of such relative diameters that one pair of gears only on adjacent shafts will be 1n operative relation one to the other.

A register of this character. is not usually reset upon each reading thereof but is set to zero when the meter is installed and is reset when the meter is reinstalled after it has been removed for repairs or other reasons. I have therefore provided means whereby the registering elements can be readily reset to zero. To accomplish this I provide means whereby the alternate register shafts may be moved axially to disengage the respective gears, thereby releasing all the gears one from the other so that each shaft may be rotated independently of the others to reset its registering element to zero. As here shown, the shafts 5 and 7 are adapted for axial movement and to this end are slidably mounted in their bearings, their forward ends projecting beyond the face plate 8 a suflicient distance to permit of this movement without disengaging the shafts from the bearings. It is immaterial whether or not the other shafts are slidahle in their bearings as the present arrangement is such that they will be held against axlal movement. Means are provided for holding the axially movable shafts 5 and 7, normally against axial movement but for releasing them for axial movement when it is desired to reset the register. In the pres- 7 out device a single controlling member, such as a plate 30, is slidably mounted on the back wall 1 of the casing and extends across the end of each of the four shafts so as to hold the same against axial movement. This plate has formed therein recesses 31 so arranged that when the plate is nmved lengthwise of the casingthese recesses will be brought into alinement respectively with the shafts 5 and 7, thus permitting these shafts to be moved axially to disengage the gears thereon from their cooperating gears, after which all the shafts may bo rotated relatively one to the other, by hand or in any other suitable manner. \Vhen the several registering elements have been'rcsct to zero the shafts are restored to their normal positions and the slide plate is moved. into a position to retain them in those positions. Preferably the slide plate is normally locked against movement and to this end I have here shown a lever 32 pivotally mounted between its ends on the back wall of the index casing and having at its lower end a pin and slot connection with the slide plate 30, as shown at 33, and having at its upper end a pin and slot connection, as shown at 34;, with the key barrel 35 of a key controlled lock 36, the connection between the lever and the key barrel being an eccentric one so that the rotation of the barrel will rock the lever and shift the slide plate.

In connection with this register I have provided a printing device which is entire- 1y separate from the register itself but which can be applied to any register of the construction shown and a printed record taken of the registration which appears on the register. To this end the printing device comprises a plurality of type carriers corresponding in number to the dials of the register and each having type corresponding to the designations or numerals on the dials.

A controlling device comprising parts asso- 12o ciated respectively with the type carriers and with the register shafts serves to control the movement imparted to the type carriers so that the type which are moved into printing positions will correspond to 1 the registrations on the respective dials. In the construction here shown the type carriers are shown at 34 as slidably mounted in a housing 35. Each type carrier has mounted therein for reciprocatory movement ten type bars or plungers '36, the several plun gers being provided with type faces corresponding tothe numerals on the respective dials. These slidable type carriers are adjusted lengthwise to move a selected type into printing positions and in order to con-v register shaft, as shown in Fig. 3,the end of the register shaft being slightl tapered and the walls of the socket being ared outwardly to facilitate the entrance of the shaft into the socket. The shaft 39 and its socket 40 are rotatable with relation to the corresphnding register shaft but each socket has mounted therein a spring pressed pawl 41 the nose of which normally rides over the periphery of the projecting end of the shaft but is adapted to enter a notch 42 in the end of the register shaft when the associated type carrier has been moved into a position corresponding to the position of the dial on that particular register shaft, the notch 42 of the shaft being arranged in the radius of the zero indication of the dial. The register shafts being locked normally against movement by the Geneva gearing will thus form positive stops to limit the movements of the corresponding type carriers and it will be apparent that each type carrier may be moved longitudinally until the pawl associated with its shaft engages the wall of the notch in the corresponding register shaft, which acts as a stop and positively prevents the further movement of the type carrier, thereby causing that type on the type bar which corresponds to the exposed indication on the corresponding dial to be moved into printing position. The driving mechanism for the alternate dials is such that they rotate in opposite directions and it will be noted, in Fig. 6, that the type on the several type carriers is arranged in reverse order but that the ciphers are all at the same end of the carriers. Conseqently when the type carriers are in their initial positions the zero record will be printed and as the type carriers are moved from their normal positions the several shafts will be rotated in the same direction but because of the reversed order in which the type is arranged on the alternate type carriers the ficient to move into printing position the type corresponding to the exposed numeral on the dial;

The several type carriers may be moved in any suitable manner but inasmuch as they will usually be moved different distances I prefer toprovide separate actuating devices therefor, which actuating devices are of such a character that they will permit the movement of any one type carrier to be interrupted at any point without interfering with the continued movement of the other .type carriers. As here shown, the several actuating devices are in the form of arms 43 which are mounted on a shaft 44 andihave pin. and slot connections with the ends of the respective type carriers, as shown at 45.

Rigidly connected with each arm 43 is a crank arm 46 having pin and slot connection with a lever 47 which is pivotally mounted between its ends on a shaft 48and the other end of which is arranged to be engaged by a cam 49 carried by a shaft 50,-

one end of which extends beyond the front wall of the housing and has secured thereto an operating handle or crank 51. The several cams 49'are secured to the shaft 50 in alinement and are so arranged thereon that when the operating handle 51 is in its normal position these cams will be in engagement with the adjacent ends of the levers 47 and will so act thereon as to cause the actuating arms 43 to be retained in their retracted positions with the associated type carriers in their zero positions. Separate springs 52' act on the several arms 43 to movement is checked by the register shafts.

The cam is so shaped that it will move graduall out of contact with the end of the lever 2 thus causing the slow movement of the type carriers and preventing the severe impact which might result if the lever was quickly released. The continued rotation of the shaft 50 will cause the cams 49 to again act upon the levers 47 to retract the actuating arms and their associated type carriers against the action of the springs 52.

Any suitable means may be provided for taking a record from the type which have been moved into printing position. In the present device, I have provided in the upper part of the casing 35, above the level of the type bars, a guideway 53 which opens 'vided for inkin ord sheet provided with carbon paper for making an impression. Suitable actuatlng means are provided for imparting movement.

to the several type bars or plungers 36 which have been moved into printing position and, in the present device, there is a separate actuating device for each type carrier. As here shown, each actuating device comprises an arm 55loosely mounted on a shaft56 and having at its end an upwardly extending projection .57 which constitutes a hammer and which is arranged to engage the lower end of the adjacent type plunger, to move the latter upwardly. A spring 58 actuates hammers 57 to move the same into engagement with the typebars. In the present device the spring does not act directly on the hammer arm but is applied to a second arm 62 which is loosely mountedon the shaft 56 alongsideof the hammer arm 55 and has a projection or-pin 63 extending beneath the hammer arm to cause the latter to be actuated by the spring. The arm 62 has at its free end, beneath the hammer 57, a projection 59 which is arranged beneat-h the shaft 50 and is adapted to be engaged by a cam60 carried by that shaft and which serves to depress the arm against the action of the spring 58 and to then quickly release the same-so that it'may be moved upwardly by the spring. The projection 59 is so arranged that it will normally engage the shaft 50 and so limit the movement of I the arm 62 that the arm 55, which rests on the pin 63, will support the hammer 57 out of contact with the type bars. When the arm 62 is retracted and released by the cam the hammer will move with the same until the projection strikes the shaft 50 and will then be carried upwardly by its momentum into contact with the type and will engage the latter with sufiicient force to cause an impression to be taken from the type, and will then drop into its inoperative position in which it will not interfere with the adjustment of the type carrier. It will be noted that the arrangement of the cam with relation to the cam 49 is such that the cam 49 will have moved entirely out of contact with the lever 47, thus permitting the movcmentof the associated type carrier to have been completed, before the lever 62 is released by the cam 60.

The cams 49 and the cams 60. are respectively arranged in alinement so that the several type carriers will be adjusted simul taneously and then the several printing devices will be operated simultaneously. A yieldable plunger 61 serves to hold the handle 51 normally against rotation and must be depressed to release the handle at the beginning of the printing operation. The several dials of the register being gear driven move slowly from one position to another and as a result there is an interval during the operation of each dial in which two numerals will be visible through the sight opening. The sight opening is made large enough to expose two numerals to pre vent both numerals being partially concealed during a portion of the operation of the dial, which would otherwise result. If the record is taken when one of the dials is in a position to expose two numerals two type bars will be moved into line with the platen 54 and inasmuch as the hammer 57 is of a Width sufficient to engage both type bars both numerals will be printed on the record, so that the record will agree literally with the registration. In such circumstances the larger numeral is accepted as the record just as the larger numeral is read on the dial.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the details thereof as various modifications may occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a mechanism of the character described, a portable recording device adapted to be applied successively to a plurality of devices from which records are to be taken and comprising an adjustable type carrier, means for imparting movement to said type carrier, said type carrier having a part to engage a part of the device from which the record is to be taken and thereby determine the amount of movement imparted to said type carrier by said means, and means for taking a record from said type carrier after it has been adjusted.

2. In a mechanism for taking a record from a device having a part the position of which determines the character of the record taken, a portable device separate from the first mentioned device, adapted to be supported on operative relation thereto and comprising a movable type carrier having a part to cooperate with sa1d part of said first mentioned device to control the movement of said type carrier, and means for imparting movement to said type carrier.

3. In a mechanism for taking a record from a device having normally stationary parts the positions of which determine the characterof the record taken, a portable device separate from the first mentioned device, adapted to be supported in operative relation thereto and comprising a plurality of separately movable type carriers each having a part to engage one of said normally stationary parts and interrupt the movement of said type carrier, and a single device for actuating said type carriers.

4. In a mechanism for takmg a record from a device having a normally stationary part the position of which determines the I 5. In a mechanism for ta ing rebords successively from a plurality of 'devices each having a part the position of which determines the character of the record taken, a

separate portabledevice adapted to-be supported in operative relation to a selected one of the first mentioneddevices and comprising an adjustable type carrier, a rotatable device associated with said t e carrier andhaving a part to engage sai part of the selected first mentioned device to interrupt the movement of said type carrier and means for actuating said type carrier.

6. In a mechanism for taking records sues cessively from a plurality of devices each having a part the position of which determines the character of the record taken, a separate portable device adapted to be supported in operative relation to a selected one of the first mentioned devices and comprising an adjustable type carrier, a shaft connected with said type carrier for rotation accordingto the movement of said type carrier and having a part to cooperate with said part of the selected first mentioned de vice to control the movement imparted to said type carrier, and means for actuating said type carrier.

7. In a mechanism for taking records suc- I cessively from a plurality. of devices each having a stud provided with a part forming a stop, a separate portable device adapted to be supported in operative relation to a selected one of the first mentioned devices and comprising a movable type carrier, a shaft connected with said type carrier and havinga socket to receive said stud of the selected first mentioned device, means associated with said socket to engage the stop on said stud, and means for actuating said type carrier.

8. In a mechanism for taking records successively from a plurality of devices each having a stud provided with a part forming a stop, a separate portable. device adapted to be supported in operative rela tion to a selected one of the first mentioned devices and comprising a movable type carrier, a shaft connected with said type carrier and having a socket to receive the stud of the selected first mentioned device, a yieldable pawl mounted in the wall of said socket to, engage the stop on said stud and interrupt themovement of said shaft and its type carrier, and means for actuating said type "carrier.

9. In a mechanism for taking records sucvcessively from a plurality of devices each having a part the position of which determines the character of the record taken, a.-

separate portable device adapted to be supported in operative relation to a selected one of the first mentioned devices and comprising a movable typecarrier havin a toothed rack connected therewith, means for impartmg movement to. said rack, a gear-i meshing with said toothed rack and a part associated with said gear and arranged to be brought into cooperative relation with said part of the device from which the record is to be taken to determine the position tov which said type carrier may be moved.

10. In amechanism for taking records successively from aplurality of devices each having a part the position of which determines'thecharacter of the record taken, a separate portable device adapted to be supported in operative relation to a selected one of the first mentioned devices and comprising a type carrier mounted for reciprocatory movement and having a toothed rack extending lengthwise thereof, a shaft extending transversely to said type carrier, a gear mounted on said shaft and meshing with said toothed rack, a with said gear and arrange to be brought into cooperative relation with said part of the device from which the record is to be taken to determine the position to which the carrier is moved, and means for imparting movement to said toothed rack and said type carrier.

11. In a mechanism fortaking records successively from a plurality of devices each having astud provided with a part forming a stop, a separate portable device adapted to be supported in operative'relation to a selected one of the first mentioned devices and comprising a type carrier mounted for reciprocatory movement and having a toothed rack extending lengthwise thereof, a shaft, a gear carried by said shaft and meshing with said toothed rack, said shaft having an axial socket to receive the stud ported in operative relation to a selected.

one of the first mentioned devices and comdpart connected prising a type carrier, a spring operated device for actuating sa1d type carrier, means to hold said actuating device normally in its retracted position and for releasing the same to permit of its operation by said spring, and means connected with said t pe carrier and cooperating with said part the device from which the record is to be taken to limit the movement imparted to said type carrier by said spring operated device.

13. In a mechanism for taking records successively from a plurality of devices each having a part the position of which determines the character of the record taken, a separate portable deviceadapted to be supported in operative relation to a selected oneof the first mentioned devices and comprising a type carrier, a shaft associated with said type carrier, spring operated means for rotating said shaft, means to control the operation of said spring operated means, and means connected with said shaft and cooperating wit-h said part of the device from which the record is to be taken to cause the amount of rotation imparted to said shaft to be determined by said part.

14. In a mechanism for taking records successively from a plurality of devices each having a part the position of which determines the character of the record taken, a separate portable device adapted to be supported in operative relation to a selected one of the first mentioned devices and comprising a reciprocatory type carrier having a toothed rack extending lengthwise thereof, spring operated means for moving said type carrier in one direction, other means for moving ,said type carrier in the opposite direction and holding the same against movement by said spring operated means, a shaft, a gear on said shaft meshing with said toothed rack, and a part carried by said shaft and arranged to be brought into cooperative relation with the first mentioned part to control the movement of said type carrier by said spring operated means.

15. In .a mechanism for taking records successively from a plurality of devices each having a stud provided with a part form ing a stop, a separate port-able device adapted to be supported in operative relation to a selected one of the first mentioned devices and comprising a reciprocatory type carrier having a toothed rack extending lengthwise thereof, spring operated means for moving said type carrier in one direction, other means for moving said type carrier in the opposite direction and holding the same agamst movement by said spring operated means, a shaft, a gear on said shaft meshing with said toothed rack, said shaft havng a socket to receive the end of the stud of the device from which the record is to be taken, and a pawl carried by said socket and arranged to engage the stop on said stud and interrupt the movement of said type carrier.

16. In a mechanism for taking records successively from a plurality of devices each having a part the position of which determines the character 'of the record taken, a separate portable device adapted to be supported in operativerelation to a selected one of the first mentioned devices and comprising a type carrier, an actuating arm operatively connected with said type carrier, a spring acting on said arm to impart operative movement thereto, cam controlled means for moving said actuating arm against the action of said spring and for holding said type carrier in its retracted position, a shaft connected with said type carrier for rotation thereby, and a part connected with said shaft and arranged to engage said part of the device from which the record is to be taken.

17. In a mechanism for taking records successively from a plurality of devices each having a part the position of which determines the character of the record taken,

a separate portable device adapted to be supported in operative relation to a selected one of the first mentioned devices and comprising a reciprocatory type carrier, an actuating arm for said type carrier, a spring for moving said actuating arm in one direction, a crank arm connected with said actuating arm, a lever pivotally mounted bebetween its ends and connected with said crank arm, a cam arranged to act on the other end of said lever, means for rotatin said cam, a shaft operatively connecte with said type carrier for rotation thereby and apart connected with said shaft and arranged to engage said part of the device from which the record is to be taken to control the movement imparted to said type carrier.

18. In a mechanism for taking records successively from a plurality of devices each having a part the position of which determines the character of the record taken, a separate portable device adapted to be supported in operative relation to a selected one of the first mentioned devices and comprising a type carrier, type bars movably mounted on said type carrier, an actuating device connected with said type carrier to move selected type bars into printing position, printing mechanism to I cause a record to be taken from those type bars which are in printing position, a part connected with said type carrier and arranged to engage said part of the device from which the record is to be taken to control the movement imparted to said type carrier, and an operating device for first causing said actuating device to impart movement to said type carrier and for then actuating said printing mechanism to take 1 a record from the type bars which have been moved into printing position.

19., In a mechanism for taking records successively from a plurality of devices 5 each having a part the p0sition of which determines the character of the record taken, a separate portable device adapted to be supported in operative relation to a "selected one of the first mentioned devices to and comprising a type carrier, type bars movably mounted on said type carrier, an actuating device connected with said type carrier to move selected typed bars intoprinting position, printing mechanism to 15 cause a record to be taken from those type bars which are in printing position, a partconnected with said type carrier and arranged to engage said part of the first mentioned device and to interrupt the move- 20 ment of said type carrier, a cam to control the actuating device for said type carrier a second cam to control said printing mechanism, and means for rotating said cams in unison. 25 In testimonywhereof, I afiix my signature hereto.

ISAAC S. DEMENT, 

